The Department of Sociology at Texas State University will host a guest lecture and panel on academic research concerning public engagement November 5.

The lecture will be given by Leslie Hossfeld of Mississippi State University at 10 a.m. in Flowers Hall 230. The panel discussion “Public Engagement at Texas State” will take place in the same location at 11:30 a.m.

The events are free and open to the general public.

Hossfeld is the head of the department of sociology at Mississippi State University, where she researches rural poverty and economic restructuring. Her lecture will focus on why researchers should look at their work as a tie to their communities and a force for good.

“The lecture and panel are part of a mini-symposium on academic research and public engagement,” said Deborah Harris, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and symposium coordinator. "It’s meant to challenge the idea that the work academic researchers do belongs in the ivory tower and to highlight how very relevant this work can be in helping our community and our world."

The panelists include Lesli Biediger-Friedman, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Ty Schepis, Department of Psychology, Melinda Villagran, College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Toni Watt, Department of Sociology.

This event is part of the Department of Sociology’s efforts to link students with researchers in their fields and gain a better understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of sociology. This event is in partnership with the public sociology task force which is tasked with finding ways to invigorate research and use the information to more directly inform the public.